Remote Laos

Upon finishing the border formality, our guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you directly to Muang Khua.

Arriving in town, you may spend an hour visiting the old bamboo bridge that connects the town and the beautiful H’Mong village of Ban Natoun.

Free for the rest of the day for your exploration.

Overnight in Muang Khua.

In the morning, we will board a long-tail boat downstream the Nam Ou River exploring one of the most authentic regions of the country.

The picnic lunch will be served at one of the sandy beaches along the river bank.

We will arrive at the Khmu village of Ban Sopchem early in the afternoon; you have ample time to stroll around the village to get familiar with the local villagers before joining the Baci Ceremony. This rite is performed mostly for family and friends who are going or coming back from a long trip. This is their way of saying thank you to you for your visit.

The dinner will be served after that for you to share with the host family, the best chance to get the first impression of Lao culture

Spend your night at Ban Sop Chem.

After a local breakfast, time to explore the village. The village children rarely receive the opportunity to interact and play with Westerners.

We then take the cruise downstream to Ban Bor a hill tribe village, and see the activity of the villagers, play with the children, and visit a small local primary school.

We then continue the boat trip to Muang Ngoi, the village in the middle of nowhere.

Stroll around the village of Muang Ngoi before starting a small hike through the magnificent landscapes consisting of rice fields.

Here we visit the historic Tham Kang cave which was used as a shelter during the Indochina War, and continue the walk to Ban Na crossing the green rice field (depending on the season).

Settle into your bungalow. Free time to rest and admire the beauty of the karst landscape reminiscent of the Halong Bai land. Overnight in Muang Ngoi.

After a local breakfast, take the cruise downstream to the nearby village. Here we take some time to look around and on a weekday visit the local school to see the charming children as they take part in their classes.

After this, we continue onwards to Tad Mork which is located close to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Sop Kong, an hour trek from the river. At the waterfall, we shall have time to swim and enjoy a picnic lunch.

In the afternoon, we continue the cruise to Ban Sopvan, which is home to the Tai Lue people. The village is located right next to the river, opposite the village on the river bank is a farm that is home to many different types of animals including pigs, chickens, ducks, and buffalo. We visit them so it is worthwhile bringing some food along if you would like to feed them and surely very appreciated by both the animals and the villagers.

The last part of today's cruise is a 30-minute cruise down to Nong Khiaw. We arrive in Nong Khiaw by around 5:00 pm just in time before darkness descends.

Start this day of adventure with a peaceful boat ride on the Nam Ou River where you will be able to explore a small Lao village along the riverside.

Learn about the villagers and their way of life along this Northern Laos River before beginning the '100 Waterfalls Adventure Trail'!

Walking through small streams and rice paddies, you will arrive at the bottom of the 100 Waterfalls.

Your guide will lead you through the cascades and prepare a local-style lunch that you can enjoy on the falls surrounded by amazingly green nature.

A small village trail on the top of the '100 Waterfalls' will lead us on our hike back down into the valley, offering wide views over the expansive Nam Ou valley.

Once back in the village, we will have some more time to experience the daily life of the Nam Ou riverside village before heading back to Nong Khiaw by boat.

Today, we will drive through the most rural and least developed part of Laos via Vieng Kham to Muang Hiam.

These back roads are a perfect way to venture off the beaten track and explore the real Laos. We see very few other travelers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are in theirs.

Arriving in Muang Hiam, we will check into the simple guesthouse to take some rest before taking a walk to explore this small village.

If time permits, we can visit the nearby hot spring, which is very popular among local people. If you wish, you can take a dip to refresh like the locals.

Overnight in Muang Hiam.

The National Park’s English-speaking guide and driver will meet clients at around 8:30 am at the guesthouse in Muang Hiem.

First, visit the National Park’s headquarters and Visitor Center in Muang Hiam. The guide will share a presentation of the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park and introduce the on-the-ground efforts in protecting wildlife.

After a 45-minute drive along a curvy road through gorgeous mountainous landscapes and through the National Park corridor you will arrive at Ban Sakok, an ethnic Khmu Village, situated on the edge of the National Park’s boundary.

The trekking starts at around 10.00 am, first, you will hike through the village’s rice, tobacco, and cornfields.

At the edge of the fields and forest, enjoy a picnic overlooking fields and the backdrop of Phou Louey Mountain. 

After lunch, begin trekking into the National Park following the path built and maintained by the village to the Tad Loy Camp.

This first day of trekking is quite short. After approximately 2-3 hours, you will arrive at the Tad Louey and Tad Loy waterfalls. Spend time relaxing, and swimming at the two waterfalls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls found in the area before continuing to the camp.

Enjoy a traditional Khmu dinner prepared by the village cook and porters. After, relax by the campfire and the wild outback of Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park. The guides may tell you Khmu folktales and stories about dragons, wildlife, and ghosts.

Optional: After dinner, your guide can take you on a short (around 30 mins) night walk near the camp to see insects and other small creatures of the night.

Overnight in Jungle Huts (2 persons per hut).

Wake up early and before breakfast walk up to a nearby mountain to check for wildlife photos on camera traps set there, bird watch, and possibly have the opportunity to hear the calls of the rare Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons.

After returning to the campsite, enjoy breakfast. Today you will trek from the foothills of Phou Louey Mountain across the rugged and mountainous landscape to The Nests campsite located near the Poung Nied saltlick and the wildlife observation tower.

The route traverses some beautiful forests and landscapes and trench remains from the war. The trek is approximately 12km and takes around 7 hours with a steep ascent to the top of Phou Phamai Mountain Pass (Elev. 1’500m) followed by a gradual descent down to the camp.

The top of Phou Phamai Mountain offers a great view over the National Park, and you can see far away from the Ban Sakok village from where you started your trek. Enjoy a picnic lunch with a view.

You will arrive at The Nests camp in the mid-afternoon and will be shown to your accommodation – the hanging spherical “Nest”. Enjoy free time to relax, bathe in the nearby river, and enjoy nature.

Enjoy a traditional Khmu dinner prepared by the village cooking group at around 6-7 PM. Dinner is eaten at the camp and is not allowed at the observation tower.

After dinner, you will receive a briefing about wildlife viewing at the Poung Nied salt lick – one of the largest salt licks in the National Park.

We will stay at the observation tower for a few hours (depending on your curiosity and patience) until no later than 11:30 pm.

Please wear warm clothes as it can be quite cold in the late evening/nighttime.

Early morning before breakfast, your guide will offer you two options:

The first option, wake up at 6:00 AM and walk back to the nearby salt lick to identify different wildlife tracks. Spend approximately an hour on the observation platform, as morning is a great time for bird watching. 

The second option, wake up early morning at 5:30 and walk for 20 minutes up the mountain to Northern White Checked Gibbons. Enjoy sunrise and birdwatching from a small viewpoint platform in a tree. At 6:30 follow the guide to check the camera traps.

Once back at the camp, enjoy breakfast and view wildlife camera trap photos taken by the camera trap during the previous night.

12 surrounding villages involved in this project receive monetary bonuses in the form of a village development fund based on the number and type of wildlife, and wildlife proof identified and viewed in the camera traps. (This fee is included in the tour price.)

Your final day of trekking takes you along a 7.5 km forest path.

The trek has a couple of moderate ascents before descending into agriculture fields. At the edge of the forest and fields, enjoy a picnic lunch. From here a tok tok (a small tractor used for plowing rice paddies and convertible to a vehicle for transportation) will pick you up and take you through the village rice and corn fields for about 5km to Ban Nam Poung Village, an ethnic Khmu Village, situated on the edge of the national park boundary.

Once in the village, your village guides will bid you goodbye and you will be transferred back to Muang Hiem by private truck or van. We will be back in Muang Hiem in the afternoon.

Overnight in Muang Hiam.

After breakfast, we will transfer to Muang Kham, which is famous for some of the best hot springs in Laos.

Along the way, we will stop to visit Ban Sonkhua, a Hmong village, to learn about their traditional way of life.

There are some more options to stop to visit some other local villages or admire the view. Do not hesitate to ask our guide and driver to stop if you find something interesting.

We will arrive in Muang Kham around mid-afternoon, and check in your hotel, which is built in Ban Nyai, hosting the most famous hot spring in Muang Kham.

Free for the rest of the day to relax and enjoy the hot spring.

Overnight in Muang Kham.

You are free today for your exploration of the resort or the village. Walking along the small village roads or admiring the local village life are some of the experiences for you to spend the day. You can also just relax and enjoy the hot spring or the swimming pool.

Overnight in Muang Kham.

After breakfast, transfer directly to Phonsavanh, which is the capital city of Xieng Khuang province.

We arrive in Xieng Khuang around noon time, check in at your hotel to take some rest.

In the afternoon, we will first make a stop at Muang Khoune, the old provincial capital that had not been destroyed by the American bombings during the secret war.

Muang Khoun is home to a unique sitting giant Buddha as well as some old pagodas that lie in ruins. The foundation and columns of Wat Pia Wat are still standing and close to this site, there is also an old 30m stupa constructed in the Lan Xang/Lanna period.

Return to Xieng Khuang whilst the sun is setting behind the mountains.

Overnight in Xieng Khuang.

Early morning, we visit the Central Market of Phonsavanh to watch the different hill tribes people barter, and exchange merchandise.

After breakfast at the hotel, we say goodbye to Phonsavanh and head south on the new road to Paksan.

You have time today to visit the Plain of Jars Site 1, the biggest and closest town that is open to tourists.

We then visit the thought-provoking UXO Information Centre, run by the British organization MAG (Mines Advisory Group) that's been helping to clear Laos' unexploded ordnance since 1994.

The center's information displays underline the enormity of the bomb drops, and there are also examples of (defused) UXO to ponder.

After that, depart to Luang Prabang via the windy zigzagging mountain paths, enjoying the splendid natural scenery of the mountains, the forest, and the landscape.

Each hill tribe village in Laos has a different feel, some are more prosperous than others but all have plenty of life.

We will make a short stop at Ban Phoudam village, where we can see the two hill tribe minorities of H’Mong and Khamu living in harmony, before driving to the photo stop at Ban Kiew Nya for the panoramic view before reaching Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, you will first visit the Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family.

We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves.

Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine.

On arrival back in the city, we will visit the old Wat Sene and the nearby magnificent Wat Xiengthong a superb piece of Lao temple architecture.

If time permits, we will drive out of the city to visit Ban Xangkhong, the Thai Lue village, which is famous for its arts and crafts. We also visit the nearby village of Ban Xienglek specializing in making the traditional Saa paper.

Late afternoon, we will make a stop at Wat Prabath to admire the sunset.

The tour ends after a visit to the famous Luang Prabang Night Market.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Rise with the sun to participate in the sacred alms-giving ceremony, where hundreds of monks silently collect offerings from the townspeople, a profound cultural experience that connects you with the soul of Laos. Afterward, you visit the bustling morning market near the former Royal Palace.

After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River. 

If time permits, we will visit the UXO Visitor Center (closed on Saturday & Sunday), where you can find the documentation about the secret war in Laos.

Your journey continues to the breathtaking Kuang Si Waterfalls, where you can swim in the cool, turquoise pools or explore the surrounding nature trails.

There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene and explore the hidden waterfalls, which other tourists rarely visit

If you wish, take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers.

On the way back to Luang Prabang, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, which offers free tours every half-hour.

Transfer back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After departing at 8:30 am from your hotel, transfer to Nahm Dong Park, which is located in Ban Xiengmouk, 10 km from the city center.

Arriving at the park, we will have a short welcome by the park manager before joining the morning activities here.

We will first start with the Zipline flying over the jungle and the waterfalls admiring the amazing evergreen scenery in 1 hour.

Then we will walk back via the jungle trail crossing some flying bridges, small streams, and clear natural pools, where you can take a refreshing splash.

The picnic lunch will be served at the viewpoint where you can spread your view over the region, including the view of Mount Phousi in the city center.

You can either spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around the park, relax by one of the huts at the camp, or enjoy the fresh cool clear natural pools.

We then transfer out to the train station on time to take the late afternoon train to Vang Vieng.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in town.

Overnight in Vang Vieng.

This tour is all about experiencing the mountains surrounding Vang Vieng by Mountain Bike (MTB) – a 35km ride.

On your riding tour, you’ll visit 6 different ethnic group villages, an amazing cave, and a lagoon. At the lagoon you have the chance to relax, swim, and go rope swinging while we prepare your BBQ lunch on the banks of the lagoon.

After lunch, you’ll visit the traditional Lao villages where your English-speaking guide will explain the different cultures, and rituals and how they differ from the other ethnic groups in Laos. In one village you’ll be able to see the Lao women weaving silk and cotton fabrics. From these villages, you’ll bicycle further around the mountains, through the beautiful countryside, and among the rice paddies.

We will also trek up to the top of Pha Nam Xay mountain to see panoramic views over Vang Vieng.

We’ll then complete the tours by finishing cycling around the mountain and return to Vang Vieng before taking the transfer back to the train station to take the train to Luang Prabang.

The train starts at 5:00 PM and takes about 1 hour to arrive in Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in town.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Early morning, we head out of the city and make our way to Nam Pien Yorla Pa, a new jungle resort built on the edge of the Phou Khao Khuay National Park.

The first half of the transfer is via the new expressway, Vang Vieng – Vientiane, which will take less than 1 hour.

We will leave the expressway and turn right onto the road to Phonhong and continue on road no. 10 to Nam Pien Yorla Pa.

Along the way, we will visit Ban Keun, which is famous for its salt extraction plant and a village that distills the local Lao whiskey.

We will also make a short stop to visit Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife, which works with authorities and individuals to rescue, rehabilitate, and release as many animals as we can from the illegal wildlife trade.

We will arrive in Nam Pien Yorla Pa around noon. Check in your bungalow.

Free for the rest of the day. There are plenty of activities on site such as trekking, ziplining, cycling, or flying bridge. Check with our guide or the resort for further details.

Overnight at Nam Pien Yorla Pa.

After breakfast, transfer to the National Park at Phou Khao Khuay, the closest national protected area to Vientiane.

You arrive in the village of Ban Hatkhay at around 9:30 AM where two local guides will join you with your freshly made Lao picnic.

The trek begins at Pha Say with its stunning view across a 40m deep gorge and the dense jungle.

You follow narrow, shaded trails and discover the different types of forest in the park: semi-deciduous, tropical, and bamboo – extraordinary, unspoiled habitats.

You can learn about the medicinal uses of the forest plants and the other plant types that abound in the forest. You take your picnic lunch in a dry riverbed (depending on the season).

Your afternoon continues with a pleasant stroll to the waterfall at Tad Say before making your return to the village.

Transfer to Vientiane is at around 6:00 PM.

Overnight in Vientiane.

In the morning, we will first visit Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power.

After that drive to Buddha Park which is around 45 minutes away. 

We then visit Lao Disable Women Development Center, where you can support them by buying some small handicrafts at the shop.

Start the afternoon with a visit to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun shines upon its towering golden spire.

Then, enjoy a panoramic view over the city as you climb the stairs to the top of Patuxai, Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe”.

Continue down Lane Xang Avenue to the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828.

Continue to the nearby Wat Phra Keo used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art.

End your tour of the capital along the banks of the Mekong River as the sun begins to set.

Overnight in Vientiane.

You are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the departure flight.